The Washington critic., 1887-08-13
A COMMONPLACE HERO.

written for TIM WAsniaGTON CRIric.l
Winter was dying hard, and with its
latest throc shec,ed everything by
fall of sleet; the north wind held It's
sway, aud tore with bitter gusts through
the storm.driven streets. Steps aud
ravcments were traps for the uuwary;
telegraph and telephone wires were
down; even stanch poles had been
snapped sheer off between the weight
Of the ice and the force of the wind.
But the sun came out the next morning
clear and bright flashing in rainbow
tints on q crystal world; and a llnemau
who was out on the roof of seven.
story building, creeping down toward
The caves after refractory wire,
caught the dazzle In his eyes, slipped
and fell, but made desperate clutch
with his numbed hands at the cave
trough, and hung suspended by that
frail support which might give way
any instant beneath his weight.
People in the street below cried out
as they caught sight of his perilous po.
silion.
"Oh, he'll be down In n minute"
"Be can't draw himself up, for see,
it's breaking away now"
mo, 1t holds yet. Cant something
be done for him?"
While they gazed upward dazed
with horror and feeling the utter help.
lessness of any effort to reach him in
time, second lineman appeared on the
fhnt .Nn
slst the other 1t only required an in.
cracking, swaying cave trough, the
desperately gripping hands, the CHASTITY,
set face of the doomed man, who swung
over that deadly abyss.
"Save him Save him came up
from the street below.
Only the meaning of the cry reached
the man on the roof, so loud aud strong
was the wind which blew there, but
he answered as If be had heard II:
IN try. 'Tain't no diff renee to me
II tits Steve Brady. Maybe as we'll
both 60 down; but l reckon we've
about ekii chances"
He was busy fastening rope TO the
nearest chimney as he spoke. 1t was
not long rope, but 1t would reach be.
yond the edge of the roof, and he
made a moose in the end of It, which
he placed around his body beneath the
arms; then taking coil of wire which
he carried for repairing purposes from
his pouch. he piled 1t TO the rope
few feet father up. and dropping upon
hands and knees, made his way to the
caves.
Hold fast, Steve" he called, en-.
couragingly; "I'm comm to help ye.
Hang on till get turn of the wire
around you-good Lord man; don't
you wrlggle or you're a gone one In
spite of mel
But in the same breath with the
warning there was a convulsive effort
on the part of the suspended man, the
parting cave trough slipped from his
rigid fingers, he was toppling back.
ward, falling into Space the earth the
sky, the face of the man above him all
blending In one chaotic picture before
his despairing sight, yet he did not
fall; the arm of John Harmon, who
had slipped like flash over the edge,
was about him holding him up, while
he adjured:
Get hold, get hold, for Gods
sake! II you vally your life and mine
keep your wits about you, Steve Brady.
Now, then, climb up the rope. It'll
bear the strain, think, and you can
get on the roof from my shoulders.
Steady; so."
There was moment Of suspense.
The strands of the straining rope were
cutting on the edge of the states, but
the wire which John had piled to it
higher up divided the weight and en-
abled first the one, then the other to
climb to the roof They stood there
painting with exertlon, looking into
each others eyes. Then
81 owe my life TO you," said Brady
"but wish I didn't. wish I'd drop.
ped down into the street afore | owed
1t to you"
The cause of the enmity between
them? The usual cause-only girl,
Not even pretty girl rs the world saw
her, but the one on whom each of these
men had set his heart. There was
something of the coquette In her, or
else she had not yet learned her own
for mind, she had given encourage
ment to each, or he thought so, which
amounted TO the same.
The bitterness Of feeling that, out OF
common gratitude, he ough, to stand
out of his rivals way, was working In
Steve Brady, but, with the words on
his lips, he began to wayer and sanl;
down unconscious.
When he came to himself he was IL
strange place, but 1t was still John
Harmon who was with him aud whC
had this to say:
"Now, look here, Steve Brady, don
you go TO fussin' or worritin' You'v,
been took with spell and busted
blood vessel innardly, through strainin
but you don't want dDctoril' so mucl
as quiet an peace of mind That,
why ! hTung you here. This Is my
room and it's in my mothers house
and / want 10 say to you that I'll b,
square an even with you, | won
take step toward seein' Dolly til
you're on your feet again. won
Try TO get ahead with her through you
misfortin', and don't want you to fee
beholden 10 me for ANYTHING. YOU'D
done as well by NEIL I'd been nyoui
fix"
The evil spirit In Steve was quelet
by this generous treatment.
you're better man than mn, Johr
Harmon" he cried out. You r,
more dcservin' of her too.
II don't know" answered John,
"lm slow au' you're quick, that's
ubOut the difference II iust lennn1,